Hitches Help

[tomr80]

I see tons of explorers running around with hitches that HANG below the bumper. What hitches are available that are hidden behind the bumper. I think it looks crappy when you can see 3 inches hanging down. I don't have a bodylift yet but wanted something to tie me over until then. I only want the (female) box visible.

 

[adarkang]

I have the hidden hitch that I ordered off of etrailer.com. I have a 2" BL and it shows a little, but it kind of hides the spare tire once the bodylift is installed. Since I had a full size spare I had to modify the spare tire mount to still fit the spare. I couldnt be happier with the Hidden hitch!

 

[Bronco638]

The issue is with the way the bumper is attached to the frame and that the last frame cross-member is just behind the bumper. There really isn't any room to 'hide' a receiver behind the Ex bumper. So, you're going to see hitch receivers hanging below the rear bumper on any Explorer. That said, when a body lift is installed, the hitch is even more exposed (I think it looks really lame on my truck). I have designed some shorter side brackets for the reciever cross tube but after giving it some additional thought, the best idea would be to fabricate a tube bumper and incorporate the receiver into it.

 

[LBarr2002]

I've got a drawtite tube hitch. It looks basically like a hidden hitch where all you see is the pipe in the middle section.

 

[tomr80]

do you guys know what to tell me to look for as far as part numbers. for the draw tite they make like 3 different ones.

 

[DeRocha]

Check out some of the hitch threads:
Hitch Poll
Hitch Thread

I bought my Curt Hitch from
The Hitch Center (gettinghookedup) back in 2004 and it's

 

[LBarr2002]

do you guys know what to tell me to look for as far as part numbers. for the draw tite they make like 3 different ones.

I don't know about part # or price. I pulled mine from a junkyard for $65. You can see it in this pic.

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

I have the hidden hitch that I ordered off of etrailer.com. I have a 2" BL and it shows a little, but it kind of hides the spare tire once the bodylift is installed. Since I had a full size spare I had to modify the spare tire mount to still fit the spare. I couldnt be happier with the Hidden hitch!

That's the one to get! Here's how mine looks with it:

Buy it from etrailer.com - they've got great prices, service, fast shipping.

http://www.etrailer.com/productdetail.asp?partno=70647&vehicleid=3130&yearfrom=1998&h=e

 

[tomr80]

Thanks

I thank you guys for the pics that kind of look I can live with, some of the cheapies they sell around my stores look like crap under there. I like both of your examples kind of stealthy looking. Thanks again

 

[tomr80]

2 to choose

Drawtite makes one and Hidden Hitch makes one, some say they have a gap between the bumper and hitch. Some say little to no gap which would be the best bet...... Someone here said drawtite actually looks better, don't know where I read that though I would ask.

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

If I am correct, LBarr's pic is a Drawtite and mine is the Hidden Hitch. And mine is hidden much better than the other one.

 

[JohnnyO]

I have a Hidden Hitch too, that's about as good as it gets for tucking close to the bumper.

 

[streetsweeper]

another vote for the hidden hitch from etrailer.com.best looking hitch on the market.

 

[tomr80]

Installed

I got to agree the hidden hitch is an awesome fit. Got one from etrailer monday morning. Ordered it on friday around 10 am it was sitting on my doorstep at 9 am monday morning.....Man thats fast. Anyway thanks for the help everyone!!! The fit is amazing you can't even see it under there....

 

[LBarr2002]

Awesome, I probably would have got the hidden hitch too, but like I said I pulled mine from a junkyard and it was that or the square cheap ones like you were talking about. What's the clearance to the spare like with the hidden hitch? I would think it'd be a little closer fit, but mine doesn't have but about .5 - 1 inch between a stock spare and the hitch so it can't be much different.

 

[tomr80]

It actually pushed my spare tire up a little 1/4 of an inch and actually touched my bumper. I really mean u can't see it unless u get level with the vehicle. On one side I could only get 2 turns of thread and had to use the Impact to drive it home. It was the spare tire I had to push it forward and not enough hands......So I put the impact on it. Would life be easier with 4 hands???.......I think so!!!

 

[BrianV]

I just installed a Reese 33051 last night and it's a tubular design. It looks good and is pretty incuspicuous. It was a breeze to install as well.